I fractured my shoulder when a car ran into my bike. I had surgery—now have numbness in my hand. The insurance company is pressuring me to settle. What should I do?

Shoulder fractures following a bike crash can be serious in nature. If you suffered a humerus fracture near the shoulder joint and it was seriously out of place—requiring surgery to align your bone fragments—you may be out of commission and unable to work for months.

Sometimes, a complication of a humerus fracture is numbness over the back of the hand. When numbness occurs with a humerus fracture, it could indicate there is nerve damage. More specifically, an injury to your radial nerve may have occurred. Because this nerve travels from the spinal cord, around the humerus bone, and down your hand, it can be damaged when the humerus is injured.

The good news is that the damage to the nerve is most likely temporary; however, any time there is an injury involving a nerve, it is never a good idea to settle with the insurance company until you know your prognosis. It may take you another several months before you regain the normal sensation and strength in your hand. Sometimes, hands, arms, and wrists, can forever be affected.

When a shoulder fracture following a bicycle accident turns into a bigger issue, you need to hold out and make sure you are getting adequate compensation. You may need compensation for your medical bills, surgical expenses, physical therapy bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, among other damages.

To make sure you are getting the compensation that you need and deserve, don’t settle with the insurance company. Before you do anything, request a free copy of our book, What You Need to Know After a Florida Auto, Truck, or Bike Accident.